Exercise machine

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine comprises a base, an upright support beam, a resistive force assembly is attached to the upright support beam and a lower body support assembly attached to at least one of the base and the upright support beam. The upright support beam is rigidly attached to the base and extends above the base. The resistive force assembly includes an upper body engagement portion that is movably mounted on the upright support beam, is axially displaceable relative to the upright support beam. The resistive force assembly is configured for providing a resistive force and exerting the resistive force on the upper body engagement portion when the upper body engagement portion is displaced. The lower body support assembly includes a lower body engagement portion that is positioned between the base and the upper body engagement portion of the resistive force assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 60/516,519 filed Oct. 31, 2003 entitled “Back Bender”, having a common applicant herewith.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to exercise machines and, more particularly, to exercise machines specifically configured for exercising back and abdominal muscles.

BACKGROUND

There are several reasons for which a person may find it desirable and/or beneficial to exercise their abdominal and back muscles. In some cases, a person may have the need to exercise such muscles to enhance their health, strength, visual appearance and/or vitality. In other cases, a person may need to exercise such muscles as part of physical therapy treatment in association with a health condition or physical injury.

However, it is well known that conventional abdominal and back muscle exercises can be dangerous. Quite often, conventional abdominal and back muscle exercises and the equipment used to perform them can lead to strained muscles. Reasons for such strained muscles include, but are not limited to, incorrect exercise technique and/or due to imparting loadings in an undesirable manner.

Additionally, some conventional exercising equipment configured for exercising back and/or abdominal muscles is cumbersome and takes up significant amounts of floor space. This can make such equipment undesirable and/or impractical. In the case of equipment intended for use in a home environment, it is typically quite important for factors such as space, ease of use and mobility to be taken into strong consideration when designing such equipment.

Therefore, an exercise machine that overcomes drawbacks and limitations associated with conventional exercises equipment configured for exercising back and/or abdominal muscles would be useful, advantageous and novel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, an exercise machine comprises a support structure, a force providing assembly attached to the support structure and a lower body support assembly attached to the support structure. The force providing assembly includes an upper body engagement portion that is movably mounted on the support structure, that is axially displaceable relative to the support structure and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction. The force providing assembly is configured for providing a force and exerting the force on the upper body engagement portion when the upper body engagement portion is displaced. The lower body support assembly includes a lower body engagement portion that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

In another embodiment, an exercise machine comprises a base, an upright support beam rigidly attached to the base and a lower body support assembly attached to at least one of the base and the upright support beam. The upright support beam extends above the base. The resistive force assembly is attached to the upright support beam. The resistive force assembly includes an upper body engagement portion that is movably mounted on the upright support beam, that is axially displaceable relative to the upright support beam and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction. The resistive force assembly is configured for providing a resistive force and exerting the resistive force on the upper body engagement portion when the upper body engagement portion is displaced. The lower body support assembly includes a lower body engagement portion that is positioned between the base and the upper body engagement portion of the resistive force assembly and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

In another embodiment, an exercise machine comprises a support structure, means for engaging an upper body portion of a user, means for providing a force and means for supporting a lower body portion of the user. The means for engaging the upper body portion is movably mounted on the support structure and has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction. The means for providing a force exerts the force on the means for engaging the upper body portion when the means for engaging the upper body portion is displaced. The means for supporting the lower body portion of the user is attached to the support structure. The means for engaging the lower body portion has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.

Correspondingly, it is a principal object of the inventive disclosures made herein to provide an exercise machine that overcomes drawbacks and limitations associated with conventional exercises equipment configured for exercising back and/or abdominal muscles. Specifically, exercise machines in accordance with embodiments of the inventive disclosures made herein reduce the potential dangers associated with conventional abdominal and back muscle exercises by enabling exercises to be preformed in a manner where the potential for incorrect exercise technique and/or loadings being imparted in an undesirable manner is reduced. Additionally, such exercise machines are advantageously configured with respect to space, ease of use and/or mobility.

Turning now to specific embodiments of the inventive disclosures made herein, in at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, the force is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion or and essentially constant relative to the degree of displacement.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and/or the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, the force provided by the force providing assembly is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, wherein the force is a resistive force that is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion.

These and other objects and embodiments of the inventive disclosures made herein will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of an exercise machine in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein, which implements a resistive force means.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of an exercise machine in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein, which implements a gravitational force means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of an exercise machine 100 in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein, which implements a resistive force means. The exercise machine 100 includes a support structure 102 (e.g., a welded steel assembly), a force providing assembly 104 and a lower body support assembly 106. Optionally, the exercise machine includes a pair of spaced apart handgrips 112 attached to the support structure 102.

The support structure 102 includes a base 108 and an upright support beam 110. The upright support beam 110 is rigidly attached to the base 108. The upright support beam 110 extends above the base 108. In the depicted embodiment, the handgrips 112 are attached to the upright support beam 110.

The force providing assembly 104 is attached to the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102. The force providing assembly 104 includes an upper body engagement portion 114, a helical spring 116 (i.e., a force providing means) and a sliding member 118 (i.e., a mounting means). The upper body engagement portion 114 is movably mounted on the upright support beam 110 via the sliding member 118 and includes a respective support surface 120 (e.g., of a padded body) that is configured for contact with a user. The sliding member 118 (e.g., a steel tube) slideably extends through one of a plurality of passages 122 in the upright support beam 110 (i.e., is slideably engaged with), thereby enabling axial displacement of the upper body engagement portion 114 relative to the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102.

The helical spring 116 is mounted between the upper body engagement portion 114 and the upright support beam 110. Through this mounting arrangement, a force produced by compression of the helical spring 116 (i.e., a resistive force) is exerted on the upper body engagement portion 114 when the upper body engagement portion 114 is displaced toward the upright support beam 110 (i.e., a first direction). Preferably, but not necessarily the force provided by the helical spring 116 is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion 114 (i.e., a liner spring rate). Optionally, the force provided by the helical spring 116 may be progressive (i.e., a substantially non-linear spring rate) with respect to displacement of the upper body engagement portion 114.

The lower body support assembly 106 is mounted on the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102. Such mounting is facilitated via a mounting member 123 of the lower body support assembly 106 extending through one of the passages 122 in the upright support beam 110. The lower body support assembly 106 includes a lower body engagement portion 124 that has a respective support surface 126 (e.g., of a padded body) configured for being engaged from a second direction, which is generally opposite the first direction. In use, the lower body engagement portion 124 is essentially non-moving.

To accommodate users of various physical size and proportion, the force providing assembly 104 and the lower body support assembly 106 are adjustably attached to the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102. The force providing assembly 104 is axially and vertically adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions. Similarly, the lower body support assembly 106 is axially and vertically adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions. Vertical adjustability is enabled, for example, via the particular respective one of the passages 122 in which the sliding member 118 of the force providing assembly 104 and the mounting member 123 of the lower body support assembly 106 are mounted. Axial adjustment is facilitated, for example, via a plurality of holes 128 provided in the sliding member 118 of the force providing assembly 104 and in the mounting member 123 of the lower body support assembly 106 in conjunction with pins 130 engaged within the selected ones of the holes 128. Accordingly, the passages 122, the holes, 128 and the pins 130 enable vertical and axial adjustment of the upper body engagement portion 114 of the force providing assembly 104 and the lower body engagement portion 124 of the lower body support assembly 106 relative to the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102.

In an alternate embodiment of the exercise machine 100 depicted in FIG. 1, the helical spring 116 is mounted between the upright support beam 110 of the support structure 102 and an end 132 of the sliding member 118 of the force providing assembly 104. In such an alternate embodiment, the directional orientation of the support surface 120 of the force providing assembly 104 and the support surface 126 of the lower body support assembly 106 are reversed (i.e., the first direction is toward the upright support beam 110 and the second direction is away from the upright support beam 110).

In another alternate embodiment of the exercise machine depicted in FIG. 1, the helical spring 116 is replaced by an elastomeric member arrangement. In such arrangement, one or more elastomeric members (e.g., elastomeric bands) are connected between the upright support member 110 and the sliding member 118 of the force providing assembly 104. Accordingly, the one or more elastomeric members are configured for exerting a force on the sliding member 118 in response to displacement of the upper body engagement portion 120. It is disclosed that the one or more elastomeric members may be configured to exert a force that is approximately proportional to axial displacement of the lower body engagement portion 114 or substantially progressive with respect to axial displacement of the lower body engagement portion 114.

In still another alternate embodiment of the exercise machine depicted in FIG. 1, a force exerting damper arrangement replaces the helical spring 116. In such arrangement, a force-exerting damper (e.g., a gas charge hydraulic damper, spring loaded hydraulic damper, etc) is connected between the upright support member 110 and the upper body engagement portion 114. Accordingly, the force-exerting damper is configured for exerting a force on the sliding member 118 in response to displacement of the upper body engagement portion 120. It is disclosed that the force exerting damper may be connected directly between the upright support member 110 (e.g., a body of the force bearing damper is connected to the upright support beam 110 and a piston shaft of the force exerting damper is connected to the upper body engagement portion 114), which enables omission of the sliding member 118, or may be coupled indirectly to the upper body engagement portion 120 (e.g., the body of the force bearing damper is connected to the upright support beam 110 and the piston shaft of the force exerting damper is connected to the sliding member 118). It is disclosed that the force-exerting damper may be configured to exert a force that is approximately proportional to axial displacement of the upper body engagement portion 114 or substantially progressive with respect to axial displacement of the upper body engagement portion 114.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of an exercise machine 200 in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein, which implements a gravitational force means. The exercise machine 200 includes a support structure 202, a force providing assembly 204 and a lower body support assembly 206. The support structure 202 includes a base 208, a first upright support beam 210 and a second upright support beam 211. The first upright support beam 210 and the second upright support beam 211 are rigidly attached to the base 208 (e.g., a welded steel assembly).

The force providing assembly 204 is attached to the first upright support beam 210 and to the second upright support beam 211. The force providing assembly 204 includes an upper body engagement portion 214, a plurality of weights 215 (i.e., a force providing means), a cable 216, a plurality of cable guide pulleys 217 (i.e., cable guide means) and a sliding member 218. The upper body engagement portion 214 is movably mounted on the first upright support beam 210 via the sliding member 218 and includes a respective support surface 220 (e.g., of a padded body) that is configured for contact with a user. The sliding member 218 (e.g., a steel tube) is slideably engaged with a mounting member 222 in the first upright support beam 210 (e.g., extends through a passage of the mounting member 222), thereby enabling axial displacement of the upper body engagement portion 214 relative to the first upright support beam 210 of the support structure 202. The plurality of weights 215 is liftably mounted on the second upright support beam 211. The cable 216 is connected between the sliding member 218 and the plurality of weights 215.

Through this structural arrangement, displacement of the upper body engagement portion 214 away from the first upright support beam 210 (i.e., a first direction) results in a gravitational force exerted on the weights 215 to be applied to the cable 216 and, correspondingly, to the upper body engagement portion 214. The applied force is essentially constant as a result of gravitational effect being constant and displacement of the upper body engagement portion 214 being essentially axial. To provide for an adjustable force applied force, it is disclosed that the number of weights 215 lifted may be adjustable.

In other embodiments (not specifically shown), the weights 215 and any associated cable guide pulleys 217 are mounted on the first upright support beam 210. In this manner, this arrangement allows the second upright support beam 211 to be omitted.

The lower body support assembly 206 is mounted on the first upright support beam 210 of the support structure 202. Such mounting is facilitated via a mounting member 223 of the lower body support assembly 106 extending through one of a plurality of passages (not specifically shown in FIG. 2) in the first upright support beam 210. The lower body support assembly 206 includes a lower body engagement portion 224 that has a respective support surface 226 (e.g., of a padded body) configured for being engaged from a second direction, which is generally opposite the first direction.

To accommodate users of various physical size and proportion, the lower body support assembly 206 is adjustably attached to the first upright support beam 210 of the support structure 202. The lower body support assembly 206 is axially and vertically adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions. Vertical adjustability is enabled, for example, via the particular one of the passages extending through the first upright support beam 210 in which the mounting member 223 of the lower body support assembly 206 is mounted. Axial adjustment is facilitated, for example, via a plurality of holes (not specifically shown) provided in the mounting member 223 of the lower body support assembly 206 in conjunction with a pin 230 engaged within the selected one of the holes. Accordingly, the passages, the holes and the pin 230 enable vertical and axial adjustment of the lower body engagement portion 224 of the lower body support assembly 206 relative to the first upright support beam 210.

To use an exercise machine in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein, a user first adjusts the upper and/or lower body engagement portions to the desired height and/or axial positions. Preferably, the support surface of the upper body engagement portion is adjusted to engage a chest region of the user's body and the support surface of the lower body engagement portion will correspondingly engage the lower back regions or buttocks region of the user's body. The user then rests their buttocks against the support surface of the lower body engagement portion and their chest against the support surface of the upper body engagement portion. The user performs the a muscle exercise by moving their upper body back and forth, whereby the machine exerts a corresponding force on the upper portion of the user's body. Where the exercise machine is configured with an adjustable force means, the force applied by the machine may be adjusted to accommodate the user's particular strength level. For example, as their level of strength increases, the applied force level may be increased accordingly.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the inventive disclosures made herein. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, chemical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of such inventive disclosures. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. An exercise machine, comprising: a support structure; a force providing assembly attached to the support structure, wherein the force providing assembly includes an upper body engagement portion that is movably mounted on the support structure, that is axially displaceable relative to the support structure and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction and wherein the force providing assembly is configured for providing a force and exerting the force on the upper body engagement portion when the upper body engagement portion is displaced; and a lower body support assembly attached to the support structure and including a lower body engagement portion that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the force is one of approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion and essentially constant relative to the degree of displacement.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein: the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions.
 4. The machine of claim 3 wherein: at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.
 5. The machine of claim 1 wherein: at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.
 6. The machine of claim 1 wherein the force provided by the force providing assembly is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.
 7. The machine of claim 1 wherein: the force is one of approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion and essentially constant relative to the degree of displacement; the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions; at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure; and the force provided by the force providing assembly is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.
 8. An exercise machine, comprising: a base; an upright support beam rigidly attached to the base, wherein the upright support beam extends above the base; a resistive force assembly attached to the upright support beam, wherein the resistive force assembly includes an upper body engagement portion that is movably mounted on the upright support beam, that is axially displaceable relative to the upright support beam and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction and wherein the resistive force assembly is configured for providing a resistive force and exerting the resistive force on the upper body engagement portion when the upper body engagement portion is displaced; and a lower body support assembly attached to at least one of the base and the upright support beam, wherein the lower body support assembly includes a lower body engagement portion that is positioned between the base and the upper body engagement portion of the resistive force assembly and that has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
 9. The machine of claim 8 wherein the resistive force is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion.
 10. The machine of claim 8 wherein: the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions.
 11. The machine of claim 10 wherein: at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.
 12. The machine of claim 8 wherein: at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.
 13. The machine of claim 8 wherein the force provided by the force providing assembly is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.
 14. The machine of claim 8 wherein: the resistive force is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion; the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions; at least one of the upper body engagement portion of the force providing assembly and the lower body engagement portion of the lower body support assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure; and the force provided by the force providing assembly is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.
 15. An exercise machine, comprising: a support structure; means for engaging an upper body portion of a user, wherein said means for engaging the upper body portion is movably mounted on the support structure and has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a first direction; means for providing a force and exerting the force on said means for engaging the upper body portion when said means for engaging the upper body portion is displaced; and means for supporting a lower body portion of the user attached to the support structure, wherein said means for engaging the lower body portion has a respective support surface configured for being engaged from a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
 16. The machine of claim 15 wherein the force is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion.
 17. The machine of claim 15 wherein: the respective support surface of said means for engaging the upper body is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; and the respective support surface of said means for supporting the lower body is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions.
 18. The machine of claim 15 wherein: at least one of the respective support surface of said means for engaging the upper body and the respective support surface of said means for supporting the lower body is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure.
 19. The machine of claim 15 wherein the force provided by said means for providing the force is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus.
 20. The machine of claim 15 wherein: the force is approximately proportional to a degree of displacement of the upper body engagement portion; the respective support surface of said means for engaging the upper body is axially adjustable to a plurality of at-rest positions; the respective support surface of said means for supporting the lower body is axially adjustable to a plurality of static in-use positions; at least one of the respective support surface of said means for engaging the upper body and the respective support surface of said means for supporting the lower body is vertically adjustable relative to a base of the support structure; and the force provided by said means for providing the force is provided by at least one of a gravitational force apparatus and a resistive force apparatus. 